6024 King Edward 1

The vacuum pump had a loud squeak that wasn't there at the start of the journey I would say.

 

I love the cab doors. Think they’re a great addition

 

Has any other operator, so basically VT's these days, felt need to add cab doors to their main line operating locos?

 

Not at the moment but that doesn’t mean to say they won’t. And frankly good on LSL for stepping up and doing it. The ORR are heavily focussed on working at height and falls from height, and I don’t suspect it would be viewed kindly if a person or equipment were to fall from a cab due to a lack of doors. The negativity seen on socials today surrounding the addition of doors to 6024, shows very much why the heritage sector is having to go through a major culture wake up with regard to safety.

 

I understand they were initially requested on 5029 from the loco crews after they were concerned about the risk of falling out when in motion. There's nowhere to stand on the front of a GWR tender, unlike others where you can tuck yourself into a corner. You have to stand on the fallplate, which isn't really ideal these days.

 

I've only been on GWR locos at heritage line speeds, not mainline, but I must admit I've always felt them to be a bit exposed relative to, say, an S15 or a Std 5. So I can understand crews travelling at 75mph wanting cab doors, prototypical or not.

Tom

 

One thing I would say is, in general VT only operate their own GW locos regularly so the crews are well versed in how the engines needs to be manned and how to manage safety risks. Can't say the same about LSL.

 

I agree, and yet you have appeared elsewhere on this forum to be one of the more staunch defenders of WCRC's refusal to comply with regulations regarding CDL on Mk1 stock. I'd be interested to hear any reasoning behind this apparent cognitive dissonance.

 

Sadly you are incorrect. I agree with CDL and the reasons behind it. So I do not defend the lack of fitting. What I have defended is the approach to a fitment plan, and how they propose to go about it. But that is not for this thread.

 

Going back to 6024. I do wonder when it's actually gonna be at the head of a railtour. Looking at both Saphos and Steam Dreams tour lineups there's not many I could imagine a King being gauge friendly for.

Any ideas of what Saphos range of tours it could be seen on?

 

Why wouldn’t it be gauge friendly? It’s been heavily modified to be gauge friendly.

 

Sorry I must have missed the discussion about that, didn't know it had been modified.

 

See this post: https://national-preservation.com/threads/6024-king-edward-1.1424246/page-4#post-2968039

The TL,DR is that the width over cylinders has been reduced by over three inches, via a series of modifications each of which is individually small but cumulatively quite significant.

Tom

 

I believe it had new, slightly smaller, outside cylinders, lowered cab, chimney and safety valves. Open to correction on that, though; it was a long time ago I was given all the facts by @Aberdare.

 

Given that 6024 has already operated from Crewe via Blackburn and the S&C to Carlisle [07/03/1998] a trip to Carlisle could be on the cards; watch this space !

 

Once again, given the amount of work Tyesely has done with NR to clear routes for its Castles, Saphos could put 6024 on nearly all the routes they operate.
Castles have operated tours to in recent years:
Cardiff, Bristol, Chester, Holyhead, Liverpool, Carlisle, Hellifield, Blackburn, York (they are cleared to Newcastle), Birmingham, Worcester, Oxford, Gloucester, London, Swindon, Taunton, Exeter & Plymouth. Plus best not forget Stratford-upon-Avon!!

 

Interesting things to look forward to maybe.
In the meantime today's Crewe-Chester paths in RTT are marked cancelled. Let's hope we see 6024 again soon.